I’ve always been a starter. Ideas spark in my mind, vivid and promising, but the follow-through often falls short. A half-finished painting hangs in my studio, its colors muted by the dust of time. A book, its chapters scattered across my desk, remains a mere outline. I’m a collector of beginnings, a hoarder of unfinished business.

This tendency isn't unique to me. In the Black community, where the pursuit of dreams often intersects with systemic barriers, the unfinished business of life can loom large. We carry the weight of unfulfilled aspirations, of opportunities missed, of lives cut short. These unfinished narratives, like the paintings and books I leave incomplete, haunt us.

The concept of unfinished business is deeply rooted in our cultural history. From the forced captivity of enslaved Africans to the ongoing struggles for racial equality, Black Americans have often had their lives interrupted, their journeys cut short. This legacy of unfinished business has shaped our collective psyche, leaving us with a sense of longing and a yearning for closure.

Langston Hughes’ poem "Dream Deferred" captures this tension. He writes, “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” His words resonate deeply with the Black experience of interrupted dreams. The unfulfilled aspirations of our ancestors, passed down through generations, have left a lasting mark. Yet, regret is not a dead end. Regret can be a catalyst for change, a motivator to address unfinished business and heal.

For many of us, regret can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and self-doubt. This is........

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